Transition to the Paleo Diet Without the Headaches

Are you afraid to transition to the Paleo Diet because you’ve heard you might feel like you have the flu for the first week? The low carb flu symptoms consist of headache, fatigue/weakness, achy muscles, and brain fog.1 Some people have exclaimed, “The Paleo Diet is not for me, I felt terrible eating that way.”

The Paleo Diet is not to blame.

What is at fault is actually not being patient with the transition time required to reset your body’s metabolic process, as well as a few simple errors in the application of the Paleo Diet’s guidelines.

Why does the low carb flu strike in the first place?

When your body is accustomed to having easy access to glucose from a conventional low-fat, high grain diet it has to adapt in order to create glucose directly from fats and protein. The process, gluconeogenesis, occurs in the liver2 as opposed to the intestines. While completely natural, gluconeogenesis takes both time and energy to occur and it requires a few weeks to develop maximum efficiency.3

In addition to increasing gluconeogenesis to regulate blood sugar 4, there is a shift in the gene expression related to metabolism5, whereby an increase in fat oxidation pathways and a decrease in fat storage pathways occur.6In other words there’s a shift away from fat storage in favor of burning fat for energy.

Here’s how to transition to the Paleo Diet while avoiding the flu-like symptoms:

Stay hydrated. Drinking enough fluids and especially using mineral-rich bone broth can help the body function most efficiently and can regulate blood sugar7. The Paleo Diet is devoid of added salt, and the electrolytes in bone broth can ward off feeling weak and dizzy during the adjustment period.

Eat more food. The Paleo Diet is not a calorie-restricted diet. It isn’t enough to follow the guidelines by just skipping the grains and legumes you were previously eating. Beef up your protein intake, add adequate healthy fats, such as avocados and macadamia nuts, and fill up on a plethora of colorful vegetables.

Support the detoxification functions of the liver and kidneys. In addition to neutralizing and processing toxins, the liver is responsible for regulating body fuel and the kidneys regulate electrolytes8. Their function can be best supported with herbs like dandelion, burdock, and ginger, as well as sulfur-rich foods, like asparagus and onions, to aid the body in producing glutathione.

Boost digestion. The liver also plays an important role in producing bile, which is necessary to digest fats and protein9. The body has to adapt to digesting a higher ratio of fats and protein than what was ingested prior to the Paleo Diet and it often takes a few days to recalibrate bile production to the appropriate level. Incorporate naturally fermented vegetables, such as low-sodium sauerkraut, and kimchi that are rich in probiotics and enzymes to assist in maximizing your digestive process.

Eat more carbs. The Paleo Diet is not necessarily a low carb diet, however it is certainly lower than the Standard American Diet.10 Adjust your carb intake as needed to reduce the severity of the flu-like weakness and fatigue. Seek out slow burning carbs from vegetable based starches, like winter squashes, and and lower glycemic fruits, such as citrus and berries.

Reduce exercise intensity. Exercise is a great way to improve metabolic flexibility. For many people, it takes about two to three weeks to move beyond the brain fog and muscle fatigue. Listen to your body’s readiness to participate in your normal exercise routine. Scale weight lifting loads and shorten the times of your work out until you feel energetically capable of full participation.

Not everyone who adopts the Paleo Diet will experience the low-carb flu. Even if you manifest some of the symptoms, our tips should reduce the severity and duration of the process. Nonetheless, in about 14 days you will feel more energized and able to reap the long-term, sustainable benefits of the Paleo Diet.

Stephanie Vuolo is a Certified Nutritional Therapist, an American College of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer, and a Certified CrossFit Level 1 Coach. She has a B.A. in Communications from Villanova University. She is a former contributor to Discovery Communications/TLC Blog, Parentables.

Stephanie lives in Seattle, WA, where she is a passionate and enthusiastic advocate for how diet and lifestyle can contribute to overall wellness and longevity. She has been raising her young daughter on the Paleo Diet since birth. You can visit her website at www.primarilypaleo.com.

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“4” Comments

I tried the Paleo diet before but due to the stenuous work I was doing at the time I couldn’t manage the transition. After reading this I’m going to give it another go, while making the necessary preparations to reduce theflulike symptons I definitely felt last time.

After not eating grains for couple months I have some terrible symptoms when I eat bread (I still love the taste). One day on bread and I feel ill for the next 5 days. Clearly my body is telling me that grains are not for us.

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